Fire-escape.



110.7411362. Y vPA'LBNTED Nov.24,19o3.

M. GJOHNSTON.

` FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION rxLnn JULY-14, 1903. v- No MODEL 2 snmfrssnnm 1.

n l y a IWW" @E HMM Hm.:

N0.744,762. y L PATBNTBDKNOVLM, 1903.- M. @JOHNSTON A PIRE ESCAPE` APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1903. A NO MODEL. A. 2 SHEETS-SHIPIII` 2.

UNITED STATES y atented Nzovember24, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

' FIRE-ESCAPE.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,762, dated November 24, 1903.

l Application led J'uly 14, 1903. Serial No. 165.423. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/@erm Be it known that I, MOSES C. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Smith, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specication.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved lire-escape, which While strong and secure may be shifted from one building to another or to different parts of the same building to effect safe egress from a burning Y building.

desired windows or doors.

with the water-main at its lower end or connected with the [ire-hose of an engine and which has hose-couplings and valves at different points for different doors of the building. The lower end of the pipe is mounted in a step, in which it is free to 4turn about a vertical axis, and the pipe is held in place at various points throughout -its length by brackets attached to the building, in which the pipe is free to turn. Opposite the second and other upper stories of the building I secure to the pipe bridges or platforms which are supported by diagonally-arranged stayrods attached to the pipe. The lower end of the pipe is provided With a lever, by means of which it may be turned in either direction to bring the platforms or bridges opposite any Each platform or bridge may be of such length as to extend across an alley or a street and when not in use is adapted to lie close to the building to which the pipe is secured. Ladders are provided for connecting the platforms with each other, the ground, and the roof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved fire-escape applied to a building. Fig. 2 is a detail plan, viewed on an enlarged scale, of one of the platforms orv bridges, the water-pipe to which it is secured being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a detail view, in transverse section, on a somewhat larger scale than that of Fig. 2, of one of the platforms or bridges. Y The remaining views are all on a larger scale than Fig. 1. Figs. 4. and 5 are detail views showing the manner of attaching the diagonal stay-rods to the water-pipe. Figs. 6 and 7are detail views showing the mannerof attaching intermediate portions of the said rods to the platforms. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the manner of attaching the lower ends of the said rods to the platforms. Fig. 9 is a detail view showiag the manner of su pporting the Ilower end of the Water-pipe. Fig. 10 is a detail View showing one of the brackets for attaching the Water-pipe to the building.

The water-pipeA extends from the bottom to the top of the building in the manner indicated in Fig. 1. At its extreme lower end the water-pipe is provided with acap B, which is preferably tapered, as indicated in Fig. 9, and seated in a correspondinglyfshaped socket c in a casting C, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the pavement. Preferably the cap B is provided with an 'overhanging flange b to prevent Water from entering the socket c. At suitabledistances apart the pipe is held in place by brackets D, which may be ofthe kind illustrated in Fig. 10. As there shown, the bracket consists of an outer portion having parallel arms d, adapted to be embedded or driven into the outer Wall of the building, and a semicircular portion d', connected to the arms d by diagonal portions cl2. The inner portion d3 is adapted to be bolted to the diagonal portions dandwhen the parts are secured about the pipe the latter is held in proper vertical position, but is free to turn about a vertical axis.

A lever E near the pavement may be used to turn the pipe in either direction.

Hose-couplings and valves F are provided at suitable distances apart for the Various doors and for the top of the building.

The pipe A is made in sections, there preferably being one section for each door. v

In line with the window-sills of the upper stories of the building I secure to the pipe platforms or bridges Gin suc-h manner that yWhen the pipe is turned the platforms or bridges turn with it. Preferably each plat-4 form `is constructed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. As there shown, it consists of two parallel angle-irons g, connected'bycrossed braces g and 'carrying cross-bars g2, placed close together to form a walk. At its inner end each platform is securely fastened to the pipe A byl-means of irons H, rmly attached to the angle-irons g and clamped onto the IOO pipe A by means of the bolts a. Each platform is supported by stay-rods J, which at their lower ends are attached to the angleirons of the platform in the manner indicated in Fig. 8, which shows a well-known form of attachment, the turnbuckles j enabling the rods to be tightened or put under proper ten sion when desired'. The upper ends of the stay-rods are attached to the arms of clampbars K, which embrace the pipe A and are securely fastened thereto. Some of these clamp-bars are arranged immediately over the pipe-couplings, which will prevent any tendency to slip. Intermediate their ends these rods may be attached to the platforms or their railings by eyebolts 7c, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. Each platform preferably has railings G on opposite sides, While the inner ends are left open. To the outer end of the lower platform is hinged a ladder L, which may when not in use be folded in the manner indicated by dotted lines and held in an elevated position by means of hooks Z or other supporting devices. A ladder M eX- tends from the lower platform to the onenext above it. Preferably this ladder is arranged at the side in order that the lower platform may not be obstructed at its end.. I also provide a ladder N from the upper platform to the roof, this ladder being preferablyarran ged at the inner end of the top platform.

A fire-escape of this description is especiallysuitable for use in alleys between buildings or in courts or Wells in crowded districts. By swinging the pipe properly passage-ways are afforded from aburning building to an adjacent building, where safe egress may be obtained. It is also practicable to use a reescape of this description for crossing narrow streets. The escape may' be turned from place to place without interfering with the passage of water through the pipe.

Not only is the invention adapted for use as a fire-escape, but it may be employed between buildings to enable a'watchman to pass from. one building to another.

The details of construction may of course be varied; but I have shown such details in order that the best way now known to me of carrying out my invention may be understood.

I claim as my invention l. The combination of avertical water-pipe arranged close to the side ofabuilding,means for attaching the pipe at various points to the building which permit the pipe to turn about a vertical axis, a pivotal support at the lower end of the pipe, escape-platforms rigidly attached to the pipe and turning therewith, and means near the lower end of the water-pipe for turning it.

2. The combination of avertical water-pipe extending from top to bottom of a building and arranged close to it, means for attaching the pipe at various points to the building which permit the pipe to turn about a vertical axis, a pivotal support at the lower end of the pipe, escape-platforms rigidly attached at their inner ends to the pipe and turning therewith and diagonally-arranged stay-rods depending from the pipe and attached to the platforms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MOSES C. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses: l

R. C. JOHNSTON, GEO. A. SMITH. 

